Locomotive front end



June 10, 1941. L. R. PYLE LOCOMOTIVE FRONT END Filed Feb. l2, 1940 3 ShetS-Sheet 3 .Mlm-

June 10, 1941. L R, PYLE 2,244,726

LO'COMOTIVE FRONT END `lune `10, 1941. L. R. PYLE 2,244,726

LOCOMOTIVE FRONT END Ffiled Feb. 12, 1940 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 10, 1941 LocoMorIvE FRONT END Leslie R. Pyle, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Locomotive Firebox Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application February 12,1940, serial No. 318,405

(Cl. 23o-97) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive front ends and especially to those embodying a circumferentially open spark arrester in the smokebox and itV consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out-in the appended claims.

Locomotive front Vends equipped with spark arresters of this kind, have certain objections which the Ipresent invention seeks to overcome. Heretofore, in suchy front ends, the bailies employed in connection with the arrester were so formed and disposed in the smokebox shell that the products of combustion entering the shell, on their way to the arrester, had to take a curved path under the arrester before they could enter the same. Therefore, the products of combustion could not travel around the entire smokebox shell, so that the draft action was not., equalized throughout all the flue openings in the ilue sheet.

Also, in such front ends as heretofore constructed, a relatively high exhaust pipe was necessary so that the overall height of the stack had to be decreased with a corresponding reduction in .draft action of the locomotive. Again, when the front end contained superheater headers and tube ends,y they could not be readily inspected or serviced without removal of the baffle plate.

Furthermore, with such front ends, by reason of the path which the products of combustion were forced to take, cinder cutting occurred under the table plate and also on the front of the smokebox shell. Again, such products of combustion quickly accumulated in the front end as a whole, and made frequent servicings and consequent laying up of the locomotive, necessary.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a structure for an arrester equipped front end of this kind wherein the standard vertical baille plate and table plate may be eliminated and at the Sametime a better and equalized draft action through all the ilues in the ilue sheet may be obtained. a A

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction in which" there shall be but a minimum amount'of cinder cutting of the smokebox shell and parts within the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement in a front end of this kind wherein it is possible to employ a low exhaust pipe to increase the overall height of the stack thereby to obtain a better -draft action. Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a front end structure of this kind whereby a better breaking down of the unburned particles of combustionQas well as a better entraining action is obtained and which'` structure is self-cleaning because the products of combustion are not con- 'fined to a path of travelfrom which they can lsettle out and accumulate in the frontend;

A further object of the invention is to` provide a structure in a front end of this kind which may be more easily inspected and serviced than has heretofore been possible and at the same time is more convenient forl working upon the superheater units and flue sheet with a minimumeisturbance of the arrester itself. j

The above-mentioned'objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the. advantages thereof will more'fully appear as the specication proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a locomotive front end embodying the preferred form of the invention; 'Y y Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the front end` structure appearing in Fis'.` 1 as taken on the line 2--2 thereof; i f

Fig. `3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the improved locomotive front end as taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l;Y l f i Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical` sectional view through a locomotive front end embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the structure appearing in Fig. 4 as taken on the line 5--5A of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structure appearing in Fig. 4 as taken on the line 6--6 of said Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the i-nvention illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and'3 of the drawings, 5 indicates the tubularv body of a locomotive smokebox shell, which is suitably connected at its rear end to the front end of the boiler shell B of the locomotive in any suitable manner. The smokeboX shell is separatedfrom the Water space of said'boile'r 'shell by the flue sheet l; The ends vof flues 8 are secured in said llue sheet to open intov the smokebox shell soas to deliver thereinto, the products of combustion from the iirebox of the'locomotive. 9 indicates the front of the smokeboxshell having the lusual door I0 therein. V f

Il indicates the flanged base for the smoke stack and which base is directly attached to the top of the smokebox shell about an opening I2 therein, Said base includes a tubular portion I3 that depends into the interior of the smokebox shell and is adapted for the attachment of an extension thereto as will later appear.

The exhaust stand or pipe which is indicated at I4, rises from the bottom of the smokebox shell 5 in axial alignment with the tubular portion I3 of the stack base. This pipe which is relatively low or short, is flanged at its top end as at I5 to receive a coacting flange I6 on an exhaust nozzle or tip I'I ofany approved kind.

In the smokebox shell is located an arrester of the so-called circumferentially open type andV the same is indicated as a whole at I3. Such an arrester, which is cylindrical in shape, has its axis arranged in alignment with the axes of" both the tubular portion I3 and the tip or nozzle. Il. It comprises vertically spaced apart top and bottom plates I9-2Il respectively and perpendicular vanes or deflector plates 2|' fixed atr their ends to said plates. The top plate, which is 'cir-i cular, has a central opening which receives the bottomendportion ofa stackv extension 22 with a slidingiit. Preferably the top plate I9 is made of front andrear, detachably connectedQsemicircular parts as appearsy in Fig. 2,.for installation purposes andwherewith it is unnecessary. to dismantle. the stackduring installation. The tcp plate. I9 -is provided witha flanged ring` ISa about. the opening before referred to, to provideabetter engagement withthe smoke stack extension, the upper end of'whi'ch is attached to the tubular portion of the smoke stack'base I3.

The bottom plate 20' ofthe arrester is engaged in supporting relation upon a horizontally disposed table plate 28disposedin the plane'of the top of the exhaust pipe flange I5 and .upon which it engages. The side edges of this table plate rest upon opposite sideportions of lthe VsmokeboxA shell, while its front edge engages against a part of the front 9. Its rear edge is disposed coincident with the circle of the, arrester bottom plate 20 when considered on they longitudinal center line of the smokebox shellp. A vertically disposed partition 23 is provided between the' rear edge of the table plate 28 and the associated bottom portion ofthe smokebox shell. Thus the table plate 28 and the partitionY 2-3 coact with parts of the smokebox shell and its front in providing a blocked-off dead airspace 2`4 inY thebottom front end portionY of thesmokebox shell `and in which the exhaust pipe I4 isf-disposed'.

With the arrangement described?, roomor space is present at opposite sides ofthe arrester I8 for the passage of steam pipes 25 that lead to the cylinders of the locomotive of which the smokebox shell formsa part'. These pipes have a flangedV upper end connection withr superheater'headers'Zli` in the upperV rear portion of the smokebox shell. Said pipes` and said superheater headers. as well as the superheater tubes 2.1 best appear'in: dotted'lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Itis pointed' out at this time that the vanes or deflectors 2|' of the arrester, which may be curved transversely are Vshown in Fig. 2 as being straight transversely.. Theyl are disposed' tangentially to the axis of the arrester as a whole, and extend inwardly from' the circleof the top and bottom plates I9.- and 20 to terminate short of the circle of the stack extension 22.

30 indicates as a' Whole a baille ordefle'ctor plate disposed inra generally upright, transverse position-between and in spaced relation `with respect to-both the ilue sheet yIV and: the rear of the' arresterA I8- -as a Whole. Asfshown-in Figs. 1 and 2, said baille includes a main upright portion 3| and an upwardly and forwardly extending portion 32 arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the adjacent portions of the superheater tubes 21 that lead to the header 26. The baille, as a whole, is of a width less than the diameter of the smokebox shell so that there is a space between each side edge thereof and the adjacent side portions of the smokebox shell.

The bottom edge of the main upright portion of the baille is disposed in a plane a short distance below the table plate and the top end of said portion` joins its extension 32 a slight distance below the top of the arrester. The top edge of theY extension 32 is disposed below the superheater header 26, permitting access to the header for inspection without removing the baille plate 3Q. The bottom end corners of the baille are cut away as seen from Fig. 3, to fit against portions of the sides of the smokebox shell and are preferably welded thereto. The upper portion of the baffle as a whole, may be secured in place by suitable braces (not shown) attached to, theY smokebox shell and whereby the baille is rigidly held in position in` the smokebox'shell.

It is apparent from the above, that as the products of combustion enter the smokebox shell, the major portion thereof impinge against the rear'face of the baille 30 usually with an impact that reduces the larger particles of said products to a smaller size. Then saidmajor portion of said products of combustion are deflected upwardly, downwardly and'laterally, to pass over, under and about the side edges of the baille with an attrition action that further reduces the size of said particles. Thus, asA said products of combustion pass about the various edges of the baille, they are distributed'in a more even manner so as to be substantially equalized in volume before they enter that part of thesmokebox shell forward of the baille. When said products of combustion are thus equalized, they enter the arrester in approximately the same volume or proportion entirely about the periphery of the arrester casing. The movement of" the products of combustion is induced by the draft action of the jet discharged from the nozzle I4 'and which action causes an entrainmentof said particles for discharge out through the stack. As the products of combustion are not conned to a single path from the ilues to the arrester, but may travel around the entire smokebox shell, this equalizes the draft throughout all of the nues 8 opening through the flue sheet 1. Therefore, there are no substantially dead flues to produce spotty burning. of. the fuel` in t'hexfirebox of the locomotive.

By reason of the structure described, no part of the products of combustion can passA into the space 24. As the products of combustion are evenly distributed about the smokeboxshell forward of the baille 30, said products enter the arrester casing about the entireperiphery thereof. Therefore, no part of; the'products. of combustion can settle out onto the tablev plate on their way to the arrester due to faulty draft ac'- tion so that theifront end as a. whole, is` selfcleaning. Y

InFigs. 4, 5 and 6, Il haveillustrated a somewhat modied form of construction for the bafile plate, in that a duplex arrangement is employed. Therefore, al1 parts otherthan the modified form of bailleplate construction are substantially the sameas before described and bear the same reference numerals. In said Figs. 4, 5 and 6, 35 indicates a main upright baille or deiiector plate disposed between andl in spaced relation with respect to both the ue sheet 1 and the rear of the arrester I8,` as a whole. As shown in Figs. 4 and V5, this plate is curved transversely of the smokebox shell and is made as an arc of a circle having its axis disposed forwardly of the axis of the arrester. The bottom edge o1' said plate is shown as disposed in substantially the plane of the bottom plate 20 of the arrester and the top edge of said plate 35 is disposed in a plane above that of the top plate I9 of the arrester. The side edges 36 of said plate 35 are perpendicular as shown, so as to leave a space between them and adjacent portions of the smokebox shell. The lower corners of said Plate are cut away for engagement with portions of the smokebox shell and to which they are welded to support the plate in the desired position. If desired, other points of said baille plate may be braced from convenient points of the smokebox shell.

31 indicates a secondary upright baffle plate that rises from the top plate I9 of the arrester and spaced rearwardly from the stack extension 22. This plate 31 which is also curved transversely of the smokebox shell, is made as an arc of a circle having the same radius as that of the plate 35 but with its axis disposed forwardly of the axis of said plate 35. The side edges of said secondary plate, which are perpendicular, are disposed substantially on spaced points of the circle of the top plate I9 of the arrester. The top edge of the plate 31 terminates in a plane below that of the superheater header so as to give full access to the header for inspection.

In this construction, those parts of the products of combustion which impinge against the main delector plate 35, pass about the various edges thereof seeking entrance into the arrester` 'I'hose parts of the products of combustion which impinge against the secondary deector plate 31, pass about the side edges and the top edges of said plate before they pass to the front of the smokebox to enter the arrester. and 31 are so formed in area and are so positioned in the smokebox with respect to the arrester as to provide a substantially equalized distribution in volume for the products of combustion before they enter said arrester about its circumference. Thus with this arrangement of bale plates, as with the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there are no dead nues or no dead areas in the smokebox shell or about the circumference of the arrester to produce eddies that interrupt the velocity of said products of combustion. Thus draft action in the rebox is not spotty nor do back pressures build up in the smokebox to interfere with said draft action.

The structures described embody no moving parts to get out of order. They are simple and may be readily installed in locomotives now equipped with arresters of this type. Also said baffles may be readily replaced by new ones when worn through.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is The plates shell, a smoke stack having a'portion arranged in the shell and operatively disposed with respect to the upper lportion of said arrester, an exhaust nozzle arranged to discharge into the bottom of said arrester, and means arranged in said smokebox shell between said flue sheet `and said arrester and so formed that .products of combustion must pass over, under andv laterally about the same to assist in e'qualizing the distribution of the products of combustion in said smokebox shell before they enter said arrester about substantially its entire periphery. v

2. In combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive having a flue sheet at one end thereof, a circumferentially open spark arrester in said shell, a smoke stack having a portion arranged in the shell and operatively disposed with respect to the upper portion of said arrester, an exhaust nozzle arranged to discharge into the bottom of said arrester, means providing a closed oii dead air space in the forward bottom portion of the smokebox shell and the top of which space is substantially coincident with the bottom of the arrester, and means arranged in said smokebox shell between said ilue sheet and said arrester and so formed that products of combustion must pass over, under and laterally about the same to assist in equalizing the distribution of the products of combustion in said smokebox shellbefore they enter the arrester about substantially its entire periphery. r

3. In combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive having a flue sheet at one end thereof, a circumferentially open'spark arrester in said shell, a smoke stack having a portion arranged in the shell and operatively disposed with respect tothe upper portion of said arrester, an exhaust nozzle arranged to discharge into the bottom of said arrester, and means arranged in said smokebox shell between said ilue sheet and said arrester and having top and bottom portions disposed in planes above and below the planes of the top and bottom of the arrester and having side margins spaced from adjacent parts of the smokebox sheet to assist in equalizing the distribution of the products of combustion in said smokebox shell before they enter said arrester about substantially its entire periphery.

4. In combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive having a ue sheet at one end thereof, a circumferentially open spark arrester in said shell, a smoke stack having a portion arranged in the shell and operatively disposed with respect to the upper portion of said arrester, an exhaust nozzle arranged to discharge into the bottom of said arrester, a plate-like member disposed substantially in the plane of the bottom of said arrester casing and extending forwardly thereof to the front of the smokebox shell and having lateral edges engaged with opposite side portions of the smokebox shell, a partition depending `from the rear end of the plate-like member and engaged with the bottom portion of the smokebox shell and coacting with said plate-like member in providing a closed off space in the forward bottom portion of the smokebox shell, and means arranged in the smokebox shell between said flue sheet and said `arrester and so formed that products of combustion must pass over, under and laterally about the same to assist in equalzing the distribution of the products of combustion before they enter said arrester about substantially its entire periphery.

5. In combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive having a ilue sheet at one end thereof, a-,circum-ferentially open. spark arrester iny the smokeboxl shell, ai smoke stack having .a portion arranged in the smokebox shell and operatively disposed with respect totheupper portion of the spark. arrester, anV exhaust nozzle arrangedl to discharge' into the bottom of the spark arrester and'` coactingV with the stack in inducing a draft action in the spark arrester, and means providing a baille between but inv spaced relation with respect. to both the flue sheet and the adjacent portion of the sparkarrester, said baiile being formed to permit the passage of the products of combustion above its top edge, below. its bottom edge and about its side edges on their way from the iiues tothe spark arrester.

6. I-n combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive havingA a flue sheet at one end thereof,A a circum'ferentially open spark arrester inthe smokebox shell, a smoke stack. having a portionl arrangedr in the smokebox shell and operatively disposed with respect to the upper portion oi'- the spark arrester, an exhaust nozzle arranged to discharge into the bottom of the spark arrester and coacting with the stack in inducing a draft action in the spark arrester, means for closing off the bottom of the spark arrester from the forward bottom portion of the smokebox, and means providing a baffle between but in spaced relation withV respect to both the flue sheet and the adjacent portion of the spark arrester, said baille being formed to permit the passage of the products-of combustion above itsvtop edge, below its bottom edge and about its side edges on their way from the flues to the spark arrester.

7. In combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive having a flue sheet at one end thereof, a circumferentially open spark arrester in theA smokebox shell, a smoke stack having a portion arranged in the smokebox shell and operatively disposed with respect to the upper portion of the spark arresten an exhaust nozzle arranged to discharge'into the bottom of the spark arresterand coacting with the stack in inducing a draft action in the spark arrester, and means providingV ani upright bale member extending transversely.v of the smokebox shell and arranged in spacedrelation to both'theilue.sheetfandy the adjacentA portion of` the spark arrester, said baffle being formed to permitfthe passage ofthe. products of combustion above=its top edge, below its bottom edge and about its side edges on their way from the ues to the spark arrester.

8. Incombination with the smokebox shell oi a` locomotive having a ue sheet at one end thereof, a. circumferentially open spark arrester in thesmokebox shell having a top and a bottom, a smoke stack having a portion arranged. in the smokebox shelly and opening through the top of the spark arresten. an exhaust nozzle opening through the'bottomrof the arrester and coacting .Y with the stack i'n inducing aV draft action in the arrester, an upright baille between butin spaced relation with respect to` both the flue sheet. and the' adjacent portion of the arrester, said baiile including an upwardly and forwardly extending top end portion, said baiilebeing formedY toy permit the passage of the products of combustion above its` top edge, below its. bottom edge and about its side edges on their way from the flues to the spark arrester.

9. In combination with the smokebox shell of a locomotive having a flue sheet at one endthereof, a circumferentially open spark arrester in the smokebox shell having atop and a bottom, a smoke stack having a portion arranged in the smokebox shell and opening through the topof the spark arrester, an exhaust nozzle opening through the bottom of the arrester and coacting with the stack in inducing a draft action in the rrester, means extendingA forwardly from the l bottom of the arrester forv closing off the same from the'forward bottom portion of the smokebox shell, and a baiile betweenbut in spacedrelation with respect to. both the ilue sheet and the rear of the arrester, and including an upwardly and forwardly extending top endY portion, said baiile being formed for thevpassage of the products of combustion abovev its top edge, below its bottom edge and about itsside edges, on their way from the ilues tothespark arrester.

LESLIE R. PYLE. 

